Consolidation of Three Wastewater Treatment Plants into One – A Case Study from Houston, TX

A large component of the City of Houston’s growth has come from the annexation of smaller communities, which has included the accumulation of small, decentralized wastewater collection and treatment systems. At present, the City owns and operates 39 wastewater treatment plants. As many of these facilities have aged and require significant upgrades to maintain reliable service, the City has sought to find opportunities to consolidate flow into fewer facilities and decommission smaller, aging plants. The City’s Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant (SEWWTP) has plenty of space for expansion, and two nearby facilities, Sagemont and Easthaven Wastewater Treatment Plants, are aging and in need of expensive upgrades to remain in service. The City is in the process of a two-stage expansion of the SEWWTP to accept flow from these two facilities. This presentation will outline the challenges encountered and solutions developed in executing this consolidation plan, including conveyance and capacity upgrades to an aging facility.